Bag holder

ABSTRACT

A support for retaining a flexible bag in an open position is disclosed. The support includes three legs which are joined together at a common juncture and an upper frame member which defines an opening having dimensions approximately equal to the peripheral dimensions of the flexible bag. Two of the legs of the support define a discharge portal through which filled bags can be easily removed.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Charles W. Kaufman Wyncote, Pa. [21] Appl. No. 846,098 [22] Filed July 30, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [73] Assignee Westmoreland Mfg. Co.

Philadelphia, Pa.

[54] BAG HOLDER 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

52 U.S.Cl .L... 248/97, 248/146 [51] lnt.Cl. 1365b 67/12 [50] Field 01 Search 248/97, 98, 99, 128, 146

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,494,541 2/1970 Smedlund 248/97 X 1,441,666 1/1923 Dinkel 248/97 2,914,281 11/1959 Johnson 248/98 3,352,520 11/1967 Bumgarner 248/97 X 3,142,465 7/1964 Hellner 248/97 Primary Examiner-Chancellor E. Harris Attorney-Seidel, Gonda and Goldhammer ABSTRACT: A support for retaining a flexible bag in an open position is disclosed. The support includes three legs which are joined together at a common juncture and an upper frame member which defines an opening having dimensions approximately equal to the peripheral dimensions of the flexible bag.

Two of the legs of the support define a discharge portal through which filled bags can be easily removed.

PATENTED Ausl 01911 Wren r02 CHARLES W. KAU FMAN A 770 IPA 10:

- BAG HOLDER The present invention is directed to a bag holder, and, more specifically, to a bag holder designed to provide a portable, inexpensive, and stable means of retaining a flexible bag in an open position.

There has been a marked increase in both private and commercial use of flexible bags and flexible liners which are placed within existing receptacles in order to facilitate content disposal and insure cleanliness. These existing receptacles often make removal of filled flexible bags difficult because of bulging contents which increase the overall size of such bags after use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bag holder wherein a U-shaped frame portion facilitates easy removal ofa filled flexible bag.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bag holder that is stable, portable and inexpensive.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bag holder wherein an upper frame member defines an opening of dimensions approximately equal to the peripheral dimensions of the flexible bag, to thereby retain the bag in position which permits the bag to be filled more easily and completely.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a bag holder wherein an upper frame member over which the mouth of the flexible bag is draped is secured to three legs at positions where the bag is capable of expansion and easy removal.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The present invention is directed to a bag holder made of lightweight, yet sturdy material. A frame is provided having three legs. Two of these legs are bowed outwardly and joined at their lowermost ends by a crossmember which may be integral therewith, thus defining a discharge portal through which a filled, flexible bag can be easily removed.

A third leg is provided and is joined to the discharge portal crossmember by a member attached or integral therewith the lowermost end of the third leg. Such members, combined with the three legs, make the bag holder stable when in use. If desired, the third leg may also be bowed for increased stability ofthe bag holder and to permit easy removal of the filled bag.

An upper frame member is provided, which defines an opening to receive a bag made of a flexible material. The dimensions of this member are approximately equal to the peripheral dimensions of the mouth of the bag to be employed. Thus, the bag, while retained, is stretched to its maximum open dimensions, thereby permitting the bag to be easily and completely filled. The upper frame member is secured to all three legs at positions spaced outwardly from the inner surface of the member to thereby provide a smooth inner surface.

The bag holder can be constructed oftubular parts and sold as a single constructed unit. The holder may also be in kit form. wherein the tubular members may be joined by nuts and bolts or other attachment means. The parts may be tubular or of any other desired shape.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown ,in the drawings a form which presently is preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag holder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 1 illustrating bag removal in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bag holder taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 14 a bag holder in accordance with the present invention designated generally as 10. The bag holder 10 retains a flexible bag 12 which may be composed of polyethylene or like material.

The bag holder 10 includes a first upstanding leg 16 and a second upstanding leg 18. As shown, the legs 16 and 18 are tubular, However, it is to be understood that the tubular legs of this bag holder may be of any desired shape. The legs 16 and 18 are bowed outwardly and are joined by a crossmember 20 at the lowermost ends. The legs 16 and 18 and the crossmember 20 may be composed of a single integral member or may be composed of separate members suitably interconnected by use of nuts and bolts or any other suitable conventional interconnecting means.

A portal 14 is defined by legs 16 and I8 and crossmember 20. The portal 14 is intended to be used for removal of the filled flexible bag from the bag holder as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 2, The bowing of the legs 16 and 18 facilitates easy and rapid removal of the flexible bag 12. The bowing of the legs 16 and 18 also increases the stability of the bag holder 10.

A third upstanding leg 22 is joined to the crossmember 20 by a member 24. The member 24 may be secured to the leg 22 in any desired manner or can be integral therewith. The leg 22 can also be bowed outwardly toward the bottom thereof to increase stability of the bag holder and also facilitate easy removal of the bag 12. The member 24 may be secured to the crossmember 20 by a nut and belt or any suitable securing means. It is also within the scope of the present invention to spotweld the member 24 to the crossmember 20. However, when the components of the bag holder 10 are sold as a kit, conventional mechanical interconnecting means such' as nuts and bolts are preferred.

The legs l6, l8 and 22 are secured at the uppermost ends thereof to a frame member 28. The frame member 28 is generally rectangular in shape and includes sides 31, 33, 35 and 37 which define a portal 48. The upstanding leg 18 is secured to the side 33 of the frame member 28. The upstanding leg 22 is secured to the side 31 of the frame member 28. The upstanding leg 16 is secured to the side 37 of the frame member 28. The side 35 cooperates with the crossmember 20 and the legs 16 and 18 to define the portal 14 through which the bag 12 may be removed.

The legs 16, 18 and 22 may be secured to the frame member 28 in any desired manner. It is preferred, however, that the interior surface of the frame member 28 be relatively smooth to permit easy removal of the bag 12. To accomplish this, the head 40 of the bolt 42 should be on the internal periphery of the frame 28 and the nut 44 should engage the threads of the bolt 42 on the external periphery of the frame 28, As seen in FIG. 5, the upstanding portion of the leg 16 terminates in a generally C-shaped segment 46 which meets with the exterior of the side 37, to provide a close fit between the parts and to provide a neat appearance. Furthermore, the end of bolt 42 will act as a friction engaging means to prevent the filled bag from collapsing inwardly through the portal 48 defined by the upper frame member 28. The legs 18 and 22 may be secured to the sides 33 and 31, respectively, in the same manner as the leg 16 is secured to the side 37.

The dimensions of the upper frame member 28 define an opening for the flexible bag 12 which is approximately equal to the peripheral dimensions of the mouth of the bag 12. When draped or wrapped over the upper frame member 28, the flexible bag 12 is retained in substantially its widest open position thereby facilitating easy and complete filling of the bag.

As shown, the legs 16 and 18 are joined at the sides 37 and 33, respectively, adjacent to the ends thereof close to the portal 14. It is to be understood that the leg 22 may or may not be bowed, as desired. When bowed, the leg 22 provides additional support for the bag holder and also facilitates removal of the filled bag from the bag holder. The bowing of the legs 16 and 18 is important since it permits rapid and efficient removal of the bag 12 from the bag holder 10. The frame member 28 may define a rectangle of any desired size and may define a square. All of the members which make up the bag holder may be tubular as shown, or may be of any other desired shape.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the legs 16, 18 and 22 will be approximately 25 inches long, the crossmember will be approximately 18 inches, the member 24 will be approximately ll /zinches long, the sides 33 and 37 will be approximately l7 /inches long, the sides 31 and 35 will be approximately l7 /2inches long and the peripheral dimensions of the bag adjacent the mouth thereof will be approximately 70 inches.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.

lclaim:

l. A support for retaining a flexible bag in an open position comprising a frame including two legs bowed outwardly defining a discharge portal through which filled bags can be easily removed, a third leg, means for joining said three legs at their lower most ends, said joining means being a first elongated member coupled at its ends to said two legs and a second elongated member coupled at its ends to said third leg and to said first elongated member intermediate its ends, and an angular upper frame member secured to said three legs at positions faced outwardly from the inner surface of said upper frame member, said upper frame member defining an opening having dimensions approximately equal to those of the relatively flexible bag for receiving and supporting said bag in a position in which said bag can be more easily and completely filled.

2. A support for retaining a flexible bag in an open position comprising a frame including two legs bowed outwardly defining a discharge portal through which filled bags can be easily removed, a third leg, means for joining said three legs at their lowermost ends, said joining means being a first elongated member coupled at its ends to said two legs and a second elongated member coupled at its ends to said third leg and to said first elongated member intermediate its ends, an angular upper frame member to be attached to said three legs at positions spaced outwardly from the inner surface of said upper frame member, said upper frame member defining an opening having dimensions approximately equal to those of the mouth of a flexible bag for receiving and supporting said bag in a position in which said bag can be more easily and completely filled, and means for attaching said upper frame member to said three legs.

3. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein said two bowed legs and said third leg are approximately 25 inches long, said first piece is approximately 18 inches long, said second piece is approximately 1 1.5 inches long and said upper frame member defining a square each side of which is 17.5 inches long. 

1. A support for retaining a flexible bag in an open position comprising a frame including two legs bowed outwardly defining a discharge portal through which filled bags can be easily removed, a third leg, means for joining said three legs at their lower most ends, said joining means being a first elongated member coupled at its ends to said two legs and a second elongated member coupled at its ends to said third leg and to said first elongated member intermediate its ends, and an angular upper frame member secured to said three legs at positions faced outwardly from the inner surface of said upper frame member, said upper frame member defining an opening having dimensions approximately equal to those of the relatively flexible bag for receiving and supporting said bag in a position in which said bag can be more easily and completely filled.
 2. A support for retaining a flexible bag in an open position comprising a frame including two legs bowed outwardly defining a discharge portal through which filled bags can be easily removed, a third leg, means for joining said three legs at their lowermost ends, said joining means being a first elongated member coupled at its ends to said two legs and a second elongated member coupled at its ends to said third leg and to said first elongated member intermediate its ends, an angular upper frame member to be attached to said three legs at positions spaced outwardly from the inner surface of said upper frame member, said upper frame member defining an opening having dimensions approximately equal to those of the mouth of a flexible bag for receiving and supporting said bag in a position in which said bag can be more easily and completely filled, and means for attaching said upper frame member to said three legs.
 3. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein said two bowed legs and said third leg are approximately 25 inches long, said first piece is approximately 18 inches long, said second piece is approximately 11.5 inches long and said upper frame member defining a square each side of which is 17.5 inches long. 